RJ Barrett looked comfortable on the court Monday night after missing two games with a knee issue.
He had 26 points (6-for-6 from the free-throw line), six rebounds and four assists to help lift New York to a win over the Clippers. It may have looked easy for Barrett, but he was playing through discomfort.
“Just trying not to think about it. Still a little sore, playing through it,” Barrett said after the game.
The Knicks say Barrett is dealing with patellar tendinopathy in his left knee. He was seen wearing a sizable brace on the knee when he was out of the game Monday, though, he did not wear it on the court.
“I’m going to have to live with the pain. Got to be mentally tough, fight through it,” he said.
The Knicks will probably keep a close eye on Barrett’s knee. He’s been one of the most impactful players in this early season, shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc and creating quality looks for himself and his teammates.
New York has outscored opponents by 39 with Barrett on the floor this year.
“He’s grown. He’s a gifted scorer. He was making plays, he’s getting downhill,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said of the fifth-year player. “Defensively, I think he’s made great strides.”
Barrett expects the discomfort in his knee to linger for a bit; the injury isn’t the result of a specific play but general wear and tear.
“I’ve just been playing a lot of basketball. Things are going to happen. It’s okay,” he said.
Barrett played in 73 games last season and two postseason rounds. He then played for Team Canada in the FIBA World Cup, winning the bronze medal in the tournament, which ended on Sept. 10.
Barrett’s left knee pain presumably flared up last week in Cleveland, as he didn’t play late in that game and then missed the next two games (loss vs. Cavs; loss at MIL).
“(It’s) something I’ve got to deal with for a little bit,” he said late Monday. “But continuing to get treatment and just staying on top of what I need to do and I’ll be okay.”
